Director, Partnerships

About The Role

The Santa Cruz Warriors seek a Director to lead the sales, service, and retention efforts within the Partnerships team. This role involves directing strategic partnership initiatives, supervising sales and development staff, and managing key corporate partner accounts. As a crucial member of the management team, you will oversee revenue generation, client engagement, activation campaigns, and professional growth within the department. This position reports directly to the Chief Operations Officer and is based onsite in Santa Cruz, CA.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee the partnership team, including sales and development operations, managing both existing partnerships and cultivating new corporate relationships to sustain revenue.
• Lead departmental projects, allocate resources effectively, manage personnel, and handle daily administrative tasks.
• Meet and surpass sponsorship revenue targets by promoting fully integrated sponsorship opportunities across major categories, contributing to company and department goals.
• Direct the partnership renewal process to maintain and grow partner engagements.
• Collaborate with the Golden State Warriors Partnerships team to generate synergy and develop multi-property partnership strategies that benefit Santa Cruz.
• Plan and execute partner activations and promotional events for key accounts, ensuring smooth event delivery and partner satisfaction.
• Work closely with Marketing, Ticket Sales, and Community Relations teams to create partnership programs and integrate campaigns, fostering ongoing partner involvement.
• Establish and nurture lasting relationships with corporate partners.
• Additional duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications and Skills

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience.
• Minimum of 5 years' experience in corporate sponsorship or account management, ideally in sports or entertainment industries; including at least 3 years in sales roles.
• Strong leadership abilities combined with excellent teamwork, relationship management, and problem-solving skills.
• Superior written and verbal communication proficiency.
• Competence with Microsoft Office Suite and Google Workspace.
• Basic knowledge of social media marketing and digital platforms.
• Flexibility and proactive approach to respond to changing priorities and last-minute demands.

Additional Information

• Must maintain a flexible schedule to support attendance at home games and special events, including evenings, weekends, and holidays.

Compensation and Benefits

• Salary starting at $100,000 plus bonus and commission.
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance coverage for employees and dependents.
• Employer-sponsored 401K matching.
• Paid vacation, summer half-day Fridays, and generous leave policies for pregnancy and parental needs.
• Perks include access to Warriors home game tickets, team store discounts, and more.

Equal Opportunity and Legal Notices

In accordance with the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, qualified candidates with arrest and conviction records will be considered. The organization is committed to equal employment opportunities and provides reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities throughout the hiring process.